Peanut-digger.



W. E- 84 T. B. WOODS & A. Z. BRYAN.

PEANUT BIGGER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.25, 1912.

1363383. Patented- Apr. 16, 1918.

I INVENTORS TB. I i 004$)" 7/415. #6062;

AT'roRN EY UNFEED PATENT Fh llfildl WILLIAM E. WOODS, THOMAS E. WOODS, AND ALTO Z. BRYAN, OIE HEADLAND, ALABAMA.

PEANUT-BIGGER.

To alZ whom 2'2? may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. VVooDs, Tnoams B. VV'oons, and ALTO Z. BRYAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Headland, in the county of Henry and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Peanut-Diggers, of which "the following is a specification.

This invention relates to peanut diggers of that general class or type in which a digging blade carried by standards which are connected with a beam, such as an ordinary plow beam, operates as a subsoiler for the purpose of digging peanuts and the like and bringing the same to the surface.

One object of the present invention is to provide a device of simple and improved construction in which there will be no liability to choking or clogging and in which the vines will ride over the digging blade and be deposited on the ground in such a fashion as not to obstruct the progress of the machine.

A. further object of the invention is to prouuee a device of the class described wherein the digger blade is reversible so that either one of two cutting edges with which it is provided may be placed foremost for direct engagement with the ground thereby conserving the blade and enabling the machine to be used without interruption other than that necessary to turn the blade when one cutting edge has become dull.

A further object of the invention is to produce a reversible digging blade having reversible lingers connected therewith and adapted to extend rearwardly with respect thereto 50 that when the digging blade is reversed the fingers may likewise be re versed.

With these and other ends in View which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consist-s, in the improved construction, novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 25, 1917- Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

SerialNo. 188,196.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of a peanut digger constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the digging blade detached.

Fig. l is a sectional detail view of the blade taken on the line 44: in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a slight modification.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

Referring to the drawing, 15 designates a beam, resembling a conventional plow beam, said beam being provided with a draft clevis 16 with handles 17 whereby the de vice may be manipulated and guided.

Extending across the beam 15 is a cross bar or plate 18, the ends of which are downturned to produce standards 19, the latter being positioned in spaced relation to the side faces of the beam. Positioned adjacent to the underface of the beam beneath the cross bar 18 is a brace bar or clamping bar 20, the latter having upturned ends forming lugs 21 which are connected with the upper ends of the standards 19 by fastening members such as rivets or bolts 22. The clamping bar 20 is also connected with the cross bar 18 by means of clamp bolts 23 lying adjacent to the side faces of the beam. It will be seen that by loosening the clamp bolts 23 the device including the standards 19 may be moved lengthwise ofthe beam. to the most advantageous position for operation where it may besecured by tightening the bolts 23.

The lower ends of the standards 19 are provided with feet 24, each of said'feet being inclined in a downward and forward direction. These feet are for the purpose of supporting the digger blade B, the construction of which will be best understood by reference to Figs. 3 andt of the drawings. The said blade is of substantially rhomboidal form, the ends being squared off as shown and upturned to produce lugs 25 in which apertures 26 are formed for the passage of bolts 27, whereby the blade is mounted on the feet 24, the latter being provided with apertures for the passage of the bolts. Braces 27 connect the standards with the beam as shown. The blade is provided with two cutting edges 29, 30 each of which tapers from the wide portion of the blade in the direction of the ends thereof, each cutting edge being of substantially V- shape. The blade and the parts with which it is associated are so proportioned that the blade may be reversed end for end to place either one of the cutting edges 29, 30 foremost for direct engagement with the ground.

The blade 13 is provided along the medial line thereof with a plurality of apertures 31 for the passage of bolts 32, each of which serves to attach fin er 33, said finger being bent at 3%, intermediate the ends thereof, so as to extend upwardly with respect to the blade, said fingers being also made of such length as to overhang the rearward edge of the blade. To retain the fingers securely against movement about the axes of the ataching bolts 32, each finger may be provided with a downwardly extending teat or projection 35, and the blade may be provided with recesses or cup-shaped depressions 36 for the reception of said teats, said recesses 36 being formed adjacent to the two sides of a row of apertures 31. It will be seen that when the teats 35 are engaged with the recesses in advance of the apertures and the bolts 32 are tightened, the fingers 33 will be very securely retained. Other means may be employed when preferred for looking the fingers in adjusted position and such locking means may be dispensed with if preferred.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, it will be readily seen that when the blade is mounted on the feet of the standards with the fingers 33 extending in a rearward direction so as to overhang the rearward edge of the blade, the machine is ready for operation. When it is drawn over the ground the blade will act as a subsoiler, cutting the roots and lifting the vines, the lat ter being forced to pass over the fingers 33 whereby loose dirt will be detached and the vines will be deposited on the ground Without danger of checking the progress of the machine. lVhen one edge of the blade has become dull, the bolts 27 may be detached thus permitting the blade to be removed and reversed. Prior to reassembling the blade with the feet of the standards the bolts 32 will be loosened and the fingers swung half way around so as to overhang that edge of the blade which will now be the rearward edge. The blade is now assembled with the feet of the standards and the machine is then ready for further use.

For the purpose of reinforcing the construction the standards may be connected with the beam by means of brace rods 27 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings has been illustrated a slight modification of the invention which consists in increasing the dimensions of the upturned wings or flanges at the ends of the blade, and connecting the same directly with the standards 19, the feet 24 of said standards being omitted. In Fig. 6 the upturned flanges, here designated by 25, are connected directly with the lower ends of the standards, here designated by 18. In other respects the construction is similar to that heretofore described.

What is claimed, is

1. In a device of the class described, a beam, standards spaced from the sides thereof and connected therewith, said standards having downwardly and forwardly inclined feet and an approximately rhomboidal digger blade detachably mounted on the feet and reversible with respect thereto, said blade having Vshaped cutting edges at opposite sides thereof.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with supporting means of an approximately rhomboidal reversible blade having V-shaped cutting edges at the sides thereof and a row of apertures midway between said cutting edges, fastening means engaging said apertures, and fingers pivotally mounted on said fastening means and overhanging one of the cutting edges of the blade.

3. A reversible digger blade having cutting edges at the two sides thereof, a row of fingers mounted along the medial line between said cutting edges and means for securing said fingers in adjusted position overhanging one cutting edge.

a. in a device of the class'described, the combination with supporting means of a reversible digger blade having cutting edges along the two sides thereof, a row of guide fingers mounted along the medial line between the cutting edges, means for connecting the guide fingers pivotally with the blade and means for locking the guide fingers in position overhanging one of the cutting edges of the blade.

' In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

WILLIAM E. WOODS. THOMAS B. WOODS. ALTO Z. BRYAN.

copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

